Lubricated bearing assembly



United States Patent 3,194,759 LUBRICATED BEARHNG ASSEMBLY Martin J. Devine, 2560 Prescott Road, Havertown, Pa, and Edward R. Lamson, Greeutree Road, Seweil, NJ. No Drawing. Filed Get. 31, 1962, er. No. 234,912 1 Claim. (Ci. 252--12) (Granted under Title 35, US. (lode (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental pur- 3 ,194,759 ?atented July 13, 1965 It is known that molybdenum disulphide provides an excellent lubricating agent and that it could be formed by continuously applying a sulphur compound to the surface of molybdenum when subjected to elevated temperatures above 600 C.

The patent of Mitchell (No. 2,697,645) teaches a method of forming molybdenum disulphide at the surface of a bearing component part, Where at least a substantial preparation of the bearing surface of said component part is composed of molybdenum, by passing hydrogen 10 poses without the payment of any royalties thereon. sulphide over the molybdenum surface at a temperature of The present invention relates to a lubricating system for 600 C. However, the application of Mitchells solution providing lubrication between sliding or rolling surfaces to high temperature bearing lubrication proble s a 111. engaged in frictional contact, of grease or oil lubricated tion to the problems of those bearings employing oils and bearings and more particularly to a system wherein the greases as lubricants would be impractical because of the bearing surface of at least one of the sliding or rolling temperature limitations on the part of oils and greases. surfaces is composed of molybdenum and the grease or We are not sure that in the subject invention there is oil in contact therewith contains a sulphur additive. an actual formation of molybdenum disulphide at the bear- The usual means of providing lubrication for bearings ing surface. The sulphur additive in the lubricant may consists of applying an oil or grease to those surfaces of provide only a temporary exchange between the sulphur the bearing which are in frictional contact. Metals such and the molybdenum at the surface of the bearing rather as aluminum and copper and metallic alloys such as steel than an actual formation of molybdenum disulphite. In have been used to make bearings with the only consideratheory, we feel that the high aflinity of molybdenum for tion in the selection of the particular component being lubrication with oils or greases containing even very small given to the relative strength and hardness of the metal or amounts of sulphur compounds indicates that some type of alloy employed. Frequently, one part of the bearing is a reaction probably takes place between the lubricant and made from one alloy and another part from a different the molybdenum metal. Stated in another manner, the

, alloy. The chief disadvantage with the bearings made of molybdenum enters into the lubrication directly rather steel, copper, aluminum, and the like is their relatively than remaining relatively passive as in the case of steel limited wear life and load carrying capacity. and other non-molybdenum alloys.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to The following examples were tested on a Falex Wear provide a bearing-lubricant system which will greatly en- Test Apparatus. The apparatus consists of two V-blocks hance both the wear life and load carrying capacity of and acylindrical pin. In our procedure, the pin was made the bearing. either of molybdenum or of steel. A particular grease Another object of the present invention is to provide containing a sulphur additive was placed on the V-blocks a novel lubricating system that is easily and inexpensively and the pin was rotated. Wear tests were conducted at a adaptable to existing bearings. gauge load of 1,000 lbs. v

Other objects and the advantages of the invention will The following examples demonstrate the exceptional be apparent from the following description taken in congain in wear life achieved by the teaching of this invennection with the appended claim. 49 tion.

Example I Sulphur additive Endurance life (min.) pin material V-block material 011 base Tlnckener Type Percent Steel Molyddenum AISI-1137 Stecl Petr0leum 0 18-21 320+ d0 do 5 -67 240+ 5 54-62 480+ Dibenzyl disulphide 5 63-76 300+ 2-mercaptobenzothiazole 5 169-122 485+ Tri-p-tolylthi0pl10sphate 5 255-298 480+ v Dibenzyldisulphide 1 161-165 480+ 2-mercaptobenzothiazole 1 112-131 480+ do 10 115-151 480+ Antimony diamyl dithiocarbamata 1 52-53 480+ do 5 212-165 430+ do 10 -173 480+ Barium di myl phenolate sulph e 1 269-280 480+ do s 100-125 482+ We have discovered that if a sulphur compound is added to a grease or oil lubricant and if this lubricant is used to lubricate a bearing wherein one or more of the sliding or rolling component parts of the bearing being lubricated It will be noted that in all cases there was no failure observed in the molybdenum pin. The fact that the molybdenum pin lasted for 320 minutes without failure and with no sulphur added isexplained in that all petroleum contains molybdenum metal or a molybdenum alloy, a 7 based greases contain some sulphur as an impurity; howsubstantial improvement in the performance of the hearing is observed.

ever, the sulphur impurity does not function advantageously in the same manner as the invention described since under high load conditions the following results were ob- By observing tained: tables wherein various greases, depending on the'oil base and the thickener employed, are shown toliave an im- Sulphur additive E d proved lubricating effect on molybdenum as compared to nc L O11 Thckener 2 K g; 5 steel if they conizun a sulphur add tive. It is believed Type Percent that for the first time, an improved lubricating effect can H be achieved if as sulphur containing grease is employed Petroleum Silica O 1 Do d0 s. MoS 5 in con unction with a molyedenum containing bearin component. 7

Example I! I Sulphur additive V-bloek material Thiokener type Oil base Steel Molybdenum Type Percent 1 AISI-1137 Stecl Calcium soap- Petroleum None None 14-26 141 2 (in d0 d0 MoSz 5 -63 252 It will be noted that with a molybdenum disulphide additive, there was a 300% increase in the performance of the molybdenum pin over the steel pin.

hereinafter refer For the purposes of the present invention, we shall to the various greases andsoils mentioned above and including thoserto which the invention is ap- Example 111 Sulphur additive V-block material Thickener type Oil base Steel Moiyb- Percent deniim Type by Weight 1... AISI-1137 Stcel. Clay Pentaerythritol ester" None None -137 300+ 2 d0 do do MoS 5 120-144 480+ Example IV Sulphur additive V-block material Thickener type Oil base Steel Molyb- Percent v denum yp y Weight 3 AISI-1137 Steel. Lithium soap Diester None 0 10-45 191 4 s do do 0 5 38-40 390+ 5 do Sulphur 5 72-82 280+ do Dibenzyl disnlphide 1 38-44 420+ Petroleum None 0 14-26 141 I Poiyalkylene glyc0l None 0 1-1 do BIOS 5 10-19 240+ Example V Sulphur additive V-block material Thickener type Oil base Steel Molyb- Percent denum Type by Weight 10-..- AISI-1l37 SteeL" Polyphenyl ether- None O 1 2 -11 d0 t .do IVIOSz.-- 5 1 36 Silicate estcr None 0 10-12 14 dn Mos, 5 22 22 Example VI Sulphur additive V-block material Thickener type Oil base Steel Percent Molybyp by dsnnm weight 1. AISI-ll37 Steel Arylurea Silicone None 0 0t 5 V 2 .do .rln M08 5 1.5 6

arse-359 plicable by the term oily material, and additionally, We prefer to utilize the following as our lubricant:

petroleum lubricants,

a diester oily material,

a polyalkylene glycol oily material, a silicate ester oily material,

a polyphenyl ether oily material,

a pentaerythritol ester oily material, silicone oily materials,

and mixtures of the same.

It Will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangement of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art Within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

The method of greatly decreasing the Wear of the bearing surfaces of tWo movable parts, one of said bearing surfaces being of one metal and the other of said bearing surfaces being of a different metal which is essentially molybdenum which comprises:

disposing between said surfaces a lubricant selected from the group of lubricants consisting of petroleum,

diester, poiyalkylene glycol, silicate ester, polyphenyl ether, pentaerythritol ester, and silicone, said lubricant being characterized by the presence therein of at least one member of the group consisting of sulphur and sulphur compounds, and

during operation of said bearing at temperatures within the temperature limitations of said group of lubricants producing a temporary exchange between said last named member and said surface essentially of molybdenum.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,007,137 7/35 Abrams 25224 2,629,691 2/53 Peterson 25228 2,697,645 12/54 Mitchel 308241 2,710,839 6/55 Swakon et al 25251.5 2,764,547 9/56 Fields 25224 OTHER REFERENCES Manufacture and Application of Lubricating Greases, by Boner, Reinhold Publishing Corporation, 1954, New York, pages 782-783.

DANIEL E. WYMAN, Primary Examiner. 

